Michael leaey



(No Model.)

M.- 'LEARY.

AUTOMATIC SWITCH.

No. 392,678. Patented Nov. 13, 1888.

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MICHAEL LEARY, OF UTICA, NElV YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JAMES F. MANN, OF SAME PLACE.

A UTOMATIC SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 392,678, dated November 13, 1888.

Application filed May 14, 1888. Serial No. 273,860. (No model.)

1'0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, MrcHAEL LEAR-Y, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Utica, in the county ofOneida and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Switches; andI do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in automatic switches, and is especially adapted for use upon street or horse railroads.

My improved switch is designedto be used where the main track divides into parallel tracks, which again unite in the main track, in the use of which tracks the cars going one way always take one of the parallel tracks and the cars going the other way always take the other track, or in that manner of using a main track and branch in which the cars going one way always take the switch and the cars going the other way always take the main track.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows my improved switch, the branch being closed. Fig. 2 shows the switch in the position in which it is moved as a car is passing from the branch to the main track. Fig. 3 shows a cross-section of Fig. 1, taken on line G H. Fig. 4 shows a cross-section of Fig. 2, taken on line E F of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 showsa bolt and elastic washer used in my switch. Fig. 6 shows a plate used at the end of a stationary split rail on an enlarged scale. Fig. 7 shows a crosssection on line A B of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 shows Fig. 7 with cross-section of rails in position.

Similar letters and figures of reference refer to like or similar parts in the several figures of the drawings.

In Figs. 1 and 2 the rails of the main track are indicated by reference-numerals 1 and 2, and the rails of the branch track by 3 and 4. Rails 1 and4 are continuous rails by the switch and diverge at the switch. Rails 2 and 3 are provided with tapering or split rails 5 and 6. Rail 6 is a stationary rail, and is. placed with reference to rail 1 so as to leave a sufficient space between them for the passage of the flanges of the wheels treading upon rail 1. Rail 5 is movable,and is held against rail 4by bolt 7 which bolt is secured in rail 5 and passes through a hole in rail 4, and rail 5 is held to rail 4 under spring-tension by an elastic rubber washer, 8, upon the outer end of bolt 7.

A plate, 9, is provided with a notch, as shown in Fig. 6, that slips onto the end of split rail 6, which plate is thick enough to have the flange of the car-wheel run upon it, and the plate also serves to secure the end of the split rail 6.

The operation of my device is substantially as follows: A car passing along the main track in the direction from the bottom toward the top of the drawings, as shown in Fig. 1, as it reaches the switch is held to the right by split rail 5, and the flanges of the wheels treading upon rail 1 pass between split rails 6 and rail 1, and split rail 5 gradually receives the tread of the wheels and carrying them onto rail 2. As a car passes from the branch onto the main track, the flanges of the wheels treading upon track 4 come in contact with split rail 5 and spread it against spring-tension away from rail 4, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, sufficient to allow the flanges of the wheels treading upon rail 4 to pass between rails 5 and 4. At the same time rail 5 acts as a guard-rail, holding the wheels to the left against rail 4, which allows the flanges of wheels treading upon rail 3 to pass the end of rail 6. The faces of the wheels are of sufficient width to bear upon rail 1 before it has passed the end of rail 6. If, through some wrong adjustment of parts, the wheels should fail to tread upon rail 1 before they have left rail 6, the wheel will run upon its flange upon plate 9, which will carry it until the wheel mounts rail 1. The other end of the branch is connected with the main track by a switch similar in construction, but so ar ranged that the cars as they come to the branch will always take the branch track.

A spiral spring may be used upon the outer end of bolt 7 in place of the rubber washer 8, with the same result.

The use of the branch track may be dispensed with by changing the plate 9 to the other side and engaging the end of the other split rail and securing it and releasing the heretofore stationary split rail, making it movable and providing it with a bolt and spring or elastic washer, as has been described. As the switch is usually constructed, both split rails are provided with openings for receiving the bolt and spring-washer and the corresponding stationary rail with a corresponding opening for the bolts, so that the switch may be easily and quickly put into a position to act automatically or its use discontinued.

In the drawings a bolt and spring are shown for operating the movable rail. The spring of the movable rail may be used to accomplish this result. Other modifications may be made in the means employed for holding the mova ble rail in position with respect to the stationary rail without departing from the spirit 20 of my invention.

WhatIclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

2. The combination of two stationary diverg ing rails, two split rails between the stationary diverging rails, each split rail converging with a stationary rail, one of said split rails being stationary and the other movably held to the stationary rail, the bolt and spring, and a stationary plate at the end of the stationary split rail, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MICHAEL LEARY. \Vitnesses:

JOSIAH PERRY, MIL'roN E. ROBINSON. 

